Pouring attachment for containers having means for cutting a discharge opening



March 10, 1953 MOORADlAN 2,630,943

POURING ATTACHMENT FOR CONTAINERS HAVING MEANS FOR CUTTING A DISCHARGEOPENING Filed June 1, 1948 fm en for Z e on Woo/ 4 alan After/15yPatented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POURING ATTACHMENTFOR CONTAINERS HAVING MEANS FOR CUTTING A DIS- CHARGE OPENING LeonMooradian, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Baker Manufacturing Company,Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Nevada Application June 1, 1948,Serial N 0. 30,261

ject of the invention to provide a simple, practical, effective deviceapplicable to a container to form a discharge opening therein, normallyserving as a closure for the opening thus formed and operable to aposition where it is effective as a pouring spout.

Various materials, and particularly foods of various kinds, are handledor sold in containers formed of paper, or the like, requiring thatdischarge holes be punched or otherwise formed to permit the contents tobe discharged. In such a container, unless provision is made for closingthe discharge opening after it is formed, the material in the containeris subject to contamination, t undesirable moisture entering thecontainer, or to the contents being readily spilled as the container ismoved or handled. Further,

the contents of such a container may be such that they do not dischargesatisfactorily froma hole merely punched in the container as such a holeis ordinarily somewhat irregular or ragged.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device applicableto a container such, for example, as a paper container, which device isof simple, inexpensive form and construction and is such that it can beeasily and quickly applied to a container to establish a dischargeopening therein and effectively remains engaged with the container uponbeing applied thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of thegeneral character referred to that involves but two elements, namely aframe and a closure, both of which are extremely simple and inexpensiveof manufacture and at the same time most effective in operation. Theframe of the structure is a simple, substantially U-shaped element thatcan be advantageously formed of a single continuous sheet of material.Likewise the closure is such that it may be a simple one-piece element.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device of thegeneral character re-' ferred to in which the closure has fingers thatserve as stops and also act to eifectively and completely fold back theflap formed in the course of establishing the discharge opening in thecontainer so that the flap is no way inter feres with or restricts thefree flow of material from the container.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a structure ofthe general character referred to in which the closure; has aperforated, portion through-which the material must'pour' as itdischarges from the container, giving the device the action of a shakeror sprinkler.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the followforms and applications of the invention,

throughout which description reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. '1 is a perspective view of a typical container, showing the deviceof the present invention applied thereto and in closed position, and thecontainer arranged in an upright position, the device being applied tothe upper end thereof. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the containershown in Fig. 1 showing the device open and showing the containerpositioned so that material pours therefrom through the device of thepresent invention. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device providedby the present invention, showing it apart from the container. Fig. 4.is an enlarged detailed sectional View through a portion of a containershowing a device embodying the present invention applied to thecontainer and in vertical section, and showing the device in the closedposition. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the device open.Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 6-6 onFig. 4. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line1-1 on Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a plan section taken as indicated by line 8-8on Fig. '7. Fig. 9 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 5 showing amodified form of construction, and Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken asindicated by line ill-4B on Fig. 9. The device embodying the presentinvention involves, essentially, two elements or sections, one a frame Aand the other a closure 13. The sections A and B are coupled orpivotally connected by a suitable connecting means C.

The structure of the present invention is ap-' plicable, generally, tocartons, containers, boxes,

or like objects formed of paper or like material, that is of materialthat can be readily pierced and cut by hand operated tools. I will referto the device as being applied to a paper container, or the like, and Ihave shown a container D with a, round or cylindrical body l0 closed atits end by fiat end members. 'In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings thedevice of the present invention is shown applied to the top H of thecontainer. However, it is to be understood that in'practice it may beapplied to or inserted in any part of a container as circumstances mayrequire, and- 55. furthermore, his to be understood that thecontainer'may vary Widely in form and character and need not be of theform or shape illustrated in the drawings.

The frame A of the device is an elongate rigid element involving,primarily, a base plate 12, side plates l3 and flanges I4. The severalparts of the frame are preferably formed of or from a single integralsheet of material such as a body of sheet metal, the sheet being shapedor formed so that the frame is generally U-shaped in cross sectionalconfiguration, as appears from the drawings. The frame serves primarilyas a cutter for piercing the container and for a mounting or support forthe closure B.

The base l2 of the frame is preferably a flat plate-like part with theside plates [3 projecting from its longitudinal edges, with a flange Hiprojecting from its upper end, and a pointed penetrating portion [5 atits lower end. It is to be understood, of course, that the ends of theframe are designated as upper and lower ends merely to facilitate anunderstanding of the structure, and that in practice the device may bepositioned in any suitable manner.

The penetrating portion 15 of the base i2 is located at or projects fromthe lower end portion of the base and has converging edges I6 that joinor terminate at a point ll which is such as to readily enter thematerial of the container. From Fig. 3 of the drawings it will beapparent that when the point i! is placed against the exterior of thecontainer and the frame is thrust toward the container the point willpierce the container and the edges I6 will sever or slit the material inopposite directions from the point where the container is initiallypierced, in order to establish a cut wide enough to allow the frame toenter the container.

The side plates [3 of the frame are joined to the longitudinal edges ofthe frame and project therefrom so that they are normal to the base 12and parallel with each other. The side plates 13 extend from the upperend of the frame, where their upper ends are in the same horizontalplane as the upper end of the base plate and where each side platecarries a flange 14, to the lower end portion of the base plate or tothe point where the portion 15 starts. It will be apparent from thedrawings that the inner portion of each side plate joins the base platealong an edge of the base plate, while the outer edge 28 of each sideplate extends at an angle or diagonally from the upper end of the frameto the point where the portion 15 starts. The edges 26 serve to sever orcut the material of the container so that when the frame is thrust intothe container beyond the point where the portion l5 enters the containerand to the point where the flanges l4 rest o the exterior of the surfacebeing penetrated, the edges 20 make parallel cuts continuing at rightangles from the ends of the cut made by the portion l5, establishing aflap 2! in the container hinged to the uncut portion of the container at22.

The flanges 14 that project outwardly from the upper ends of the sideplates l3 start with their inner ends 23 where the side plates join thebase plate and continue along the upper ends of the side plates so thattheir outer ends 24 occur at or extend slightly beyond the hinge point22 of the flap 2 I.

In accordance with the present invention the base plate I2 is perforatedto readily admit or pass material from the interior of the container Dto the closure member B which, when in the open position, extends orcontinues from the up-.

per end of the base plate, as clearly shown in Fig.

5 of the drawings. In the particular case illustrated a large opening isprovided in the upper end portion of the base plate and longitudinallydisposed elongate openings 3| are spaced apart in the lower end portionof the base plate. A transverse webv Portion 33 is left or establishedbetween the upper ends of the openings ill and the lower end of theopening 39 while a longitudinal web portion 34 is established betweenthe longitudinal openings 3i. In accordance with the present invention astiffening rib 35 is formed on or along the web portion 34 and continuesdownwardly therefrom in the penetrating portion 15. The rib 35v may, inpractice, be formed by suitably indenting the. parts where the ribsoccur, and in practice it serves to materially strengthen the frame andparticularly the penetrating portion [5, which must be rigid and whichis otherwise Without reinforcement, since the side plates l3 do notcontinue below the point where the portion l5 starts.

In accordance with the preferred form of the invention the upper outercorner of each side plate 13 is notched or cut away somewhat, as shownat to receive the hinge portion 22 and to establish a projecting part Mon each side plate 53 immediately below the hinge 22 when the device isfully engaged in the container, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of thedrawings. Through this structure the frame is effectively retained inoperating position when it has been inserted through a wall or part ofthe container until the flanges M are flush with or bear upon thesurface penetrated by the device. v

From the foregoing description it will be understood how the frame A maybe advantageously formed of a. single body or sheet of metal and it willbe apparent how it can be advantageously operated by pressing on itsupper end to force the penetrating portion I5 into a wall of a containerto be followed by the plate and sides of the frame until the flanges l4engage the penetrated surface. As the frame is being inserted theflanges M form a flat, surface convenient for the hand of they operatorand the combined action of the portion 15 and the edges 26 of the sideplates establish a flap 2| at the opening cut in the container, whichflap will ordinarily be depressed into the container somewhat to aposition such as is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The closure B is a trough or spout-like element involving, generally, aplate and cheeks 5i joined to the side edges of the plate and projectingtherefrom. The plate is preferably sub-. stantially rectangular in planconfiguration having an inner edge portion '52 which occurs at andparallel with the upper edge of the base plate I2 of frame A. The plate50 has an outer edge 54 that occurs at the outer ends 24 of the flanges,14 provided on the side plates l3 of frame. A, while the side edges 56of the plate 50 occur at and extend parallel with the upper edges of theside plates [3 from which the side flanges, M project. In the preferredform of the invention a suitably shaped or rounded lip portion 5?; isprovided on or projects from'the outer ed e 5 of the plate 50 to providea part to slightly overlap the penetrated surface of the container andto form a part that can be conveniently gripped when it is desired toopen the closure.

The cheeks 5| of the closure are preferably formed with upper portionsEll that adjoin the side edges 56 of the plate 50 and extend downwardly.therefrom, lower portions 61, and connect ing portions 62 that, join theportions 60 and BI...

The upper portions 60 extend lengthwise of the side edges 56 of theplate and are of considerable extent vertically while the lower portions6| are of limited extent vertically and are joined to the portions 68 bythe connecting portions 62 so that they are somewhat offset inwardly ortoward each other from the portions 60, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and'7 of the drawings.

The cheeks 5| have outer curved edges 63 substantially concentric withthe axis of the pivotal connecting means C and extending from the outerend portion of plate 50 to the lowermost parts of the cheeks, as shownin Fig. 4 of the drawings. The outer edges 63 of the cheeks are such asto effectively engage the flap 2| and move it to a positionsubstantially as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, in the event that theedges 20 of the frame should fail to move the flap to the position shownin Fig. 5 in the course of the formation thereof.

In accordance with the present invention fingers Ill project from thelowermost portions of the cheeks 5| and are such as to engage the flap2| in the course of the closure being operated from the normal closedposition shown in Fig. 4 to an open position such as is shown in Fig. 5,so that the flap is positively folded completely up against the underside of the Wall in which the opening has been established. In Fig. 5the flap is shown in the fully folded position. It is to be noted thatwhen the closure is in the open position shown in Fig. 5 the fingers 70not only engage the flap to hold it fully folded but at the same timeserve to stop further outward movement of the closure. The fingers arepreferably so located as to effectively stop the closure with the plate50 extending substantially parallel with the base plate |2 of frame A,as shown in Fig. 5. In the preferred form of the invention the inneredge portion 52 of the plate 5|] is rounded somewhat to bear or roll onthe upper end portion of the base plate, 12 in the course of operatingthe closure between the open and closed positions. Through thisconstruction a reasonably tight joint is at all times maintained betweenthe closure and the upper end portion of thebas'e plate of the frame. Itwill be understood from the preceding description how the portions 6|]of the cheeks 5| fit snugly between the upper edge portions of the sideplates |3 of the frame maintaining an effective seal at these pointswhen the closure is in the normal position shown in Fig. 4. Further,when the closure is in the closed position the outer edge portion 54with the lip 57 preferably overlaps the hinged part 22 so that aneffective closure is maintained at this point. Themeans C pivotallyconnects the frame A and the closure B on an axis extending transverselyof the device at the upper inner corner of the frame. The units of themeans C preferably pivotally connect the engaged portions 60 of thecheeks 5| and the side plates 1 3 of the frame. At each unit of themeans C a trunnion 8B is formed on one of the connected parts to engagein an opening 8| provided in the other of the connected parts. In thecase illustrated the trunnions are formed on or from the side plates l3of the frame A and project from the inner sides of the plates to extendinto holes 8| providedin the portionsfill of the cheek plates. Throughthis construction the desired pivotal connections areestablished,utilizing material of the structure hereinabove described and withoutthe necessity of adding pivot pins or other extra parts. Further, withthe construction just described it will be apparent that the closurewith the opening 8| properly established therein is effectively coupledto the frame when the side plates |3 of the frame are established toproject from the base plate I 2 of the frame in the manner hereinabovedescribed.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, theclosure B is confined to the structural features hereinabove describedand when it is in the open position it forms a trough or spout receivingmaterial from within the container and effectively dispensing it asshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the cheek plates serving as guidesconfining the material into a suitable stream.

In practice the structure may include suitable means acting to hold theclosure closed, open or in an intermediate position. I show a detentmeans for this purpose including a projection or button 90 on the plateI3 cooperating with sockets or depressions 9| in the plate 5|. Thedepressions 9| are located to receive the button 90 when the closure isin the closed position, and when it is in a partially open position.When it is in the fully open position the fingers 10 act to stop theclosure.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings theclosure includes a screen member preferably in the form of a perforatedplate projecting from the inner end portion of the closure plate 5|! atright angles to the closure plate and between the cheek plates to occuracross the opening in the container when the closure is in the openposition, as shown in Fig. 9. When the perforated plate-85 is employedthe projecting edge portion Hi thereof may serve in place of the fingersH3 in the form of the invention above described. When this form ofconstruction is used the edge portion 86 of the cheek plates may bejoined to the plate 85 or may merely abut the plate 85, and in eithercase the parts 85 and 5| being engaged efiectively brace or strengtheneach other.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the deviceprovided by the present invention is not only of simple inexpensiveconstruction but it is simple and convenient to apply to a container,and when applied and in the normal closed position it has no partsprojecting from the container to be undesirable or in any way dangerousor disagreeable, but rather it serves as an effective closure or sealand protects the contents of the container in a most advantageousmanner. When the closure is swung to the open position the structurematerially facilitates the discharge of material from the container. .Inthe case of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, the deviceserves to deliver a neat stream of material, whereas in the form shownin Figs. 9 and 10 it operates effectively as a shaker.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my.invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variationsor modifications that may appear to those skilled'in the art and fallwithin the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device applicable to a container including, an elongate framehaving a fiat base extending from one end of the frame to the other andflat parallel imperforate sides projecting at one side of the base andfrom the longitudinal edges of the base to be substantially normal tothe plane of the base, the base and sides cooperating to make a U-shapedcut in a container wall when the device is applied thereto, the said cutpro- Viding the container with a flap portion, a closure including a hatplate and flat cheeks projecting from the opposite edges of the plate,and means pivotally connecting the closure and frame on an axis adjacentone edge of the plate and adjacent the outer end of the base, said axisbeing in the plane of the base and transverse of the frame, the cheekshaving curved exposed edges concentric with said axis and the closurehaving projections at the ends of said curved edges engageable with theflap portion of the container to fold it.

2. A device applicable to a container including, a frame having anelongate, flat, perforated base and flat, parallel, imperforatesidesprojecting in the same direction from the longitudinal edges of thebase, a closure including a fiat, imperferate plate and fiat, parallel,i-mperioratecheeks projecting in the same direction from opposite edgesof the plate, and means piVotall-y connecting the closure and frame onan axis transverse of the frame and adjacent one edge of th'eplate andadjacent one end of the base for pivotal movement of the closure from aclosedposition where the plate is across one end of the frame and normalto the plane of the frame and an open position where the plate projectsfrom the base of the frame beyond said end of the frame and issubstantially parallel therewith forming a spout, the base and sides ofthe frame having edges adapted to out a hole in the container and toleave a flap on one edge of the hole, the cheeks having arcuate exposededges concentric with said axis each with an end terminating at theplate and the closure having projecting parts at the other ends of thearcuate edges adapted to engage and fold the flap inward inthecontaineras the closure moves from the closed position to the open position.

3. A device applicable to a container including, a frame having anelongate, flat base and flat, parallel, imperforate sides projecting inthe same direction from the longitudinal edges of theba-se a closureincluding afiat, imperiorate plate and flat, parallel, imperioratecheeks projecting from one edge of the plate and having arcuateouteredges each with an endadjoining the base, and means pivotally connectingthe closure and one end portion of the base on an axis adjacent andparallel with said edge of the plate and adjacent said end of the basefor pivotal movement of the closure from a closed position where theplate is across one end of the frame normal to the plane of the base andan open position where the plate projects from the base or the framebeyond said end of the frame to be substantialiy parallel therewith andforming a spent, the said edges of the cheeks being concentric with saidaxis, the closure having stop fingers projecting radially outward fromthe other ends or said edges of the cheeks and away from the base of theframe and beyond the sides; of the frame when the. closure is. in theopen position, there being a material passing opening in; saidinendportion of the base. 7

4. A device. for piercing the wall. of a container including, a framehaving an elongate, flat, perforated base with a pointed end: and flat,-imperforate sides projecting in the same direction from thelongitudinal edges of the base, a clo sure including a fiat,imperforateplate and flat, imperforate cheeks projecting in the samedirection from opposite side edges of the plate, and means pivotallyconnecting the closure and frame on an axis adjacent one edge of theplate and adjacent one end of the base and extending transverse of thebase, the closure having a perforated wall projecting from the plate andbetween the cheeks and extending radially of said axis.

5-. A device applicable to a container including, a frame having anelongate, fiat, perforated base and flat, imperforate sides projectingin the same direction from the longitudinal edges of the base, a closureincluding a flat, imperforate plate and flat, imperforate cheeksprojecting from the plate, and means pivotally connecting the plate ofthe closure and one end or the frame on an axis transverse of the frameand adjacent one edge of the plate and adjacent one end of the base forpivotal movement of the closure from a closed position where the. plateis across one end of the frame and an open position where the plateprojects from the base of the frame beyond said end of the frame forminga spout, the closure having a perforated wall substantially normal tothe plate and projecting from the said edge of the plate radially ofsaid axis and between the cheeks and having a projecting outer portionadapted to engage. with the container and stop the closure in the openposition, the other end of the base being pointed.

6. A device applicable to a container including, an elongate framehaving a longitudinal, flat, perforated base with a pointed lower end, aflange projecting outwardly from the upper end of the base, fiat,imperforate. sides projecting in the same. direction from the.longitudinal edges of the base, and flanges projecting outward from thesides at the upper end of the frame, the edges or the sides being curvedand being recessed adjacent the flanges on the sides, a, closure havinga flat, imperforate plate and flat, imperforate cheeks; projecting inthe same direction from the side edges. of the'plate, and meanspivotally connecting the closure adjacent the inner edge portion of theplate to the upper end portion of the frame adjacent the base formovement of the closure about an axis transverse of the frame andbetween a. closed position where the plate is across the upper end ofthe frame and an, open. position where the plate projects from. theupper end of the base, the cheeks having frictional engagement with. thesides of the frame when the closure is in the closed position, theclosure having a flat, perforated wall substantially normal to the plateand radial of said axis and projecting from the inner edge thereof andbetween the cheeks.

LEON MOORADIAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileofthis patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS

